As we completed hypothesis 32 and considering the fathers’ teaching on contrition being a source of spiritual labor and protection, we made a segway into the most beautiful and compelling of stories found in the Evergetinos. The story captures why we must maintain a spirit of humility and contrition to the very end of our lives. Regardless of the depth of our love and mercy or our gratitude toward God and others for their care, the evil one through his relentless provocation can throw us back on our heels to such an extent that we don’t know whether we are going or coming. Thus, from our perspective, we may have sought to be loving, to go the extra mile in the service of others and God and that we have been grateful for the gifts that we have received. However, the oppression of the evil one’s temptations and our own vulnerability and instability of mind and heart can bring us to a point of turning away from God and others in a spirit of hostility. One of the most powerful aspects of the story in hypothesis 34 about Evlogios and the cripple is that it does not allow us to distance ourselves from the trial that they experience. We are not outside observers but we can see ourselves in both characters - sharing each of their vulnerabilities. After 15 years of living in mutual love and charity and in a spirit of gratitude, the relationship between these two men is torn to pieces. Confusion, resentment, hatred, and rejection rise up in a way that is not only unexpected but does not seem to be rooted in any reality that can be fixed or addressed.

It is only the presence and the words of the holy man Saint Anthony the Great that shine a light upon what is happening. His words are like a scalpel and he quickly moves to cut out the disease that threatens them both with spiritual death. The devil‘s actions are fierce and so St.  Anthony’s words must be direct and severe. He rebukes Evlogios for considering casting out a child of God whom God loves and warns him that God will raise someone up with greater love to care for the cripple. With equal severity, Saint Anthony turns to the cripple, warning him that he is unworthy of heaven and of earth given the fact that it is Christ himself who has been caring for him and it is Christ that he, the cripple, has been abusing verbally.  Without being given an opportunity to respond, they are both ordered to return to their home and not to depart from one another for if they do so they will lose the crown that God has prepared for them.

We come to see that the love that we are called to is that of the kingdom. It is not going to be rational. In fact in so many ways, it may push us to what seems to be absurdity; to the other worldly love of the Cross itself. Our ascent to Christ, our hope in his promises and our willingness to allow him to draw us along the path he desires must be absolute. To the world this will seem to be foolishness, but to those who have faith it is the shining light of God‘s glory and wisdom.

---

Text of chat during the group:

00:07:16 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: August 9th at 7pm

00:11:21 Bob Čihák, AZ: P. 258, # 30

00:11:50 Fr. Charbel Abernethy: Page 258 number 30

00:34:00 Anthony: The difficult thing is to discern the thought & source, briefly, and quickly let it fly away (or chase it away!)

00:37:01 Myles Davidson: Nepsis

00:37:31 Adam Paige: Archimandrite Zacharou’s book Flying Over the Abyss is out of stock.. probably because of Fr Charbel ! The monastery says it’ll be reprinted in August

00:38:58 Julie: Do you think the evil one uses family, to distract us, that this is more important, to make you feel guilty

00:42:00 Andrew Zakhari: I think about the calls Jesus extends in his teaching and parables. "Let the dead bury the dead..." and the parable of the Great Banquet where people are too busy to accept the invitation.

00:43:24 Forrest Cavalier: The priest's homily at mass yesterday made the point that anger opposes meekness and mildness. I think this paragraph points out that even righteous anger can be enlarged which will eliminate the state of contrition.

00:43:45 Una: How about internal chatter than breaks the silence?

00:44:08 Myles Davidson: Reacted to "How about internal c..." with 👍

00:49:18 Julie: Reacted to "How about internal c…" with 👍

00:56:07 Anthony: Sometimes, the internal chatter turns very dark, as it did for me in the days of the sex scandal news, and make a wall of defilement between the soul and God, where reaching for God also brings up the defiling newd

00:56:20 Anthony: News

00:57:56 Una: "The Throne before the phone." Turn to God first

00:58:06 Maureen Cunningham: Internet makes it worst because it always demanding. You do not have time to make schedules .It seems to be a constant nag all mail that's unwanted

00:59:12 Erick Chastain: "Prayerbook not Facebook"

00:59:29 Una: Reacted to ""Prayerbook not Fa..." with ❤️

01:11:38 Anthony: This is sounding like Alzheimer's or dementia

01:11:52 Forrest Cavalier: Reacted to "This is sounding lik..." with 👍

01:19:24 Anthony: Perhaps Evlogious in his delivery betrayed uncalled for indignation or self-righteousness or vanity?

01:20:47 Jonathan Grobler: Zero sugar coating, straight to the point...

01:28:39 Maureen Cunningham: Much  like Job God allowed  the suffering

01:29:49 Catherine Opie: Profound!

01:29:55 Andrew Zakhari: Thank you! Excellent study today!

01:30:09 Maureen Cunningham: Blessing

01:30:51 Rebecca Thérèse: Thank you☺️

01:30:54 Catherine Opie: God Bless Fr. have a blessed week.

01:30:55 Bob Čihák, AZ: Thank you & God bless you.

01:31:04 Rick Visser: thank you

01:31:05 Nino: Thank you Father..goog to be back